U.S. patent number 6,880,590 [Application Number 10/436,149] was granted by the patent office on 2005-04-19 for ergonomic ladle.
Invention is credited to Randall Cornfield.
United States Patent |
6,880,590 |
Cornfield |
April 19, 2005 |
Ergonomic ladle
Abstract
A ladle including: a concave peripheral wall having a wall
peripheral edge delimiting a containment volume. The ladle
peripheral wall includes a pouring section for facilitating the
pouring out of foodstuff from the containment volume. The pouring
section has a symmetrically concave configuration. A collecting
section is provided for facilitating the collection of foodstuff
from a container into the containment volume. The collecting
section defines a scraping sub-section wherein the wall peripheral
edge has a substantially rectilinear configuration, the scraping
subsection extending integrally from the pouring section. The
collecting section also defines a cornering sub-section wherein the
wall peripheral edge has a substantially convex configuration, the
cornering sub-section extending integrally from the scraping
sub-section. A handle extends from the ladle peripheral wall
intermediate the pouring section and the cornering sub-section. The
scraping subsection is usable for both scooping foodstuff located
substantially adjacent the container base wall into the containment
volume and scraping foodstuff from at least a portion of the
container base wall.
Inventors: |
Cornfield; Randall (Montreal,
Que, CA) |
Family
ID: |
33449707 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/436,149 |
Filed: |
May 13, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
141/110; 141/108;
210/466; 222/572 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J
43/281 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47J
43/00 (20060101); A47J 43/28 (20060101); B65B
001/04 (); B65B 003/04 (); B67C 003/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;141/110,108 ;30/324-326
;210/464-470 ;D7/690,691 ;222/572,575 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Maust; Timothy L.
Claims
I claim:
1. A ladle for allowing both the collection of a foodstuff from a
container into said ladle and the pouring out of said foodstuff
from said ladle, said container defining a container base wall and
a container peripheral wall, said container base and peripheral
walls merging into a container corner section, said ladle
comprising: a substantially concave ladle peripheral wall, said
ladle peripheral wall having a wall peripheral edge delimiting a
containment volume, said ladle peripheral wall defining a wall
inner surface and a wall outer surface, said ladle peripheral wall
including a pouring section for facilitating the pouring out of
said foodstuff from said containment volume, said pouring section
having a substantially symmetrically concave configuration; a
collecting section for facilitating the collection of said
foodstuff from said container into said containment volume, said
collecting section defining a scrapping sub-section wherein said
wall peripheral edge has a substantially rectilinear configuration,
said scrapping subsection extending integrally from said pouring
section; a cornering sub-section wherein said wall peripheral edge
has a substantially convex configuration, said cornering
sub-section extending integrally from said scrapping sub-section; a
handle extending from said ladle peripheral wall substantially
intermediate said pouring section and said cornering
sub-section;
whereby said scrapping subsection is usable for both scooping the
foodstuff located substantially adjacent said container base wall
into said containment volume and scrapping said foodstuff from at
least a portion of said container base wall and wherein said
cornering sub-section is usable for both scooping the foodstuff
located substantially adjacent said container corner section into
said containment volume and scrapping said foodstuff from at least
a portion of said container corner section.
2. A ladle as recited in claim 1 wherein said ladle peripheral wall
also includes a measuring section for facilitating the
determination of the volume of said foodstuff contained in said
containment volume, said measuring section extending substantially
between said cornering sub-section and said pouring section.
3. A ladle as recited in claim 2 wherein said measuring section has
at least one measuring indication marked thereon.
4. A ladle as recited in claim 3 wherein said at least one
measuring indication includes at least one measuring line
protruding from said wall inner surface into said containment
volume.
5. A ladle as recited in claim 2 wherein said handle extends from
said measuring section substantially adjacent said pouring
section.
6. A ladle as recited in claim 1 further comprising a flow
modifying means attachable over at least a portion of said pouring
section for modifying the flow of said foodstuff as said foodstuff
is poured out of said ladle.
7. A ladle as recited in claim 6 wherein said flow modifying means
is releasably attachable over at least a portion of said pouring
section.
8. A ladle as recited in claim 6 wherein said flow modifying means
includes a flow modifying adaptor, said flow modifying adaptor
being attachable to said ladle so as to contact at least a portion
of said wall peripheral edge.
9. A ladle as recited in claim 8 wherein said flow modifying
adaptor has at least one straining aperture extending therethrough
for allowing said flow modifying means to act as a strainer.
10. A ladle as recited in claim 8 wherein said flow modifying
adaptor has a flow sizing aperture extending therethrough, said
flow sizing aperture being positioned, configured and sized for
limiting the flow of said foodstuff out of said ladle to a
predetermined flow size.
11. A ladle as recited in claim 8 wherein said wall peripheral edge
defines a food contacting portion adapted to contact said foodstuff
as the latter is poured out of said ladle, said pouring section
defining a guiding portion for guiding said foodstuff towards said
food contacting portion, said flow modifying adaptor including a
flow sizing aperture extending therethrough, said flow sizing
aperture being configured and sized so as to be substantially in
register with said food contacting portion when said flow modifying
adaptor is attached to said ladle.
12. A ladle as recited in claim 11 wherein said pouring section
defines a substantially outwardly projecting pouring spout locates
substantially adjacent said food contacting portion, said flow
sizing aperture being configured and sized so as to be
substantially in register with said pouring spout when said flow
modifying adaptor is attached to said ladle.
13. A ladle as recited in claim 8 further comprising a tongue and
groove combination formed between said flow modifying adaptor and
said ladle peripheral wall for releasably attaching said flow
modifying adaptor to said ladle.
14. A ladle as recited in claim 8 wherein said flow modifying
adaptor defines a plate peripheral edge, said plate peripheral edge
having a substantially arcuate plate edge first section, said plate
edge first section being configured and sized for being
substantially in register with said wall peripheral edge over at
least a portion of said pouring section.
15. A ladle as recited in claim 14 wherein said flow modifying
adaptor includes an attachment flange depending integrally from at
least a portion of said plate edge first section, said attachment
flange having at least one flange aperture extending therethrough,
said pouring section having at least one corresponding tongue
protruding substantially outwardly from said wall outer surface,
said at least one flange aperture and corresponding tongue being
positioned, configured and sized for cooperating in releasably
attaching said flow modifying adaptor to said ladle peripheral
wall.
16. A ladle as recited in claim 14 wherein said flow modifying
adaptor is configured and sized for extending over substantially
fully across said pouring section.
17. A ladle as recited in claim 14 wherein said plate peripheral
edge also has a substantially rectilinear plate edge second section
intercepting said plate edge first section.
18. A ladle as recited in claim 2 further comprising a flow
modifying means attachable over at least a portion of said pouring
section for modifying the flow of said foodstuff as said foodstuff
is poured out of said ladle, said flow modifying means including a
flow modifying adaptor, said flow modifying adaptor being
attachable to said ladle so as to contact at least a portion of
said wall peripheral edge, said measuring section and said flow
modifying adaptor being configured and sized for allowing
visualization of at least a portion of said measuring section when
said flow modifying adaptor is operatively mounted on said ladle
peripheral wall.
19. A ladle as recited in claim 1 wherein said pouring section
defines a spout extending from said wall peripheral edge.
20. A ladle as recited in claim 19 wherein said spout is positioned
substantially centrally relative to said pouring section.
21. A ladle as recited in claim 2 wherein said pouring section
defines a spout extending from said wall peripheral edge
substantially along a spout axis, said spout axis also
substantially delimiting said measuring section from said cornering
sub-section.
22. A ladle as recited in claim 1 wherein said pouring section has
substantially the configuration of a quarter of a sphere and
defines a pouring section radius having a radius origin, said ladle
peripheral wall about said pouring section being located
substantially equidistally relative to said radius origin, said
pouring section radius having a radius length; said scrapping
sub-section having a scrapping sub-section length, said scrapping
sub-section length having a value substantially half that of said
radius length.
23. A ladle as recited in claim 1 wherein said pouring section
defines a spout extending from said wall peripheral edge
substantially along a spout axis; said wall peripheral edge about
said cornering sub-section having substantially the configuration
of an end portion of an ellipse, the long axis of said ellipse
being angled relative to said spout axis by an ellipse-to-spout
axis angle.
24. A ladle as recited in claim 23 wherein said ellipse-to-spout
axis angle has a value of approximately between 30 and 60
degrees.
25. A ladle as recited in claim 23 wherein wall peripheral edge
about said scraping sub-section extends substantially collinearly
from said wall peripheral edge about said cornering
sub-section.
26. A ladle as recited in claim 23 wherein said ladle peripheral
wall also includes a measuring section for facilitating the
determination of the volume of said foodstuff contained in said
containment volume, said measuring section extending substantially
between said cornering sub-section and said pouring section, said
wall peripheral edge about said measuring section extending
substantially collinearly from said wall peripheral edge about said
cornering sub-section.
27. A ladle as recited in claim 23 wherein said ladle peripheral
wall also includes a measuring section for facilitating the
determination of the volume of said foodstuff contained in said
containment volume, measuring section extending substantially
between said cornering sub-section and said pouring section, said
wall peripheral edge about said measuring section extending
substantially collinearly from said wall peripheral edge about said
cornering sub-section; said wall peripheral edge about said
scraping sub-section extending substantially collinearly from said
wall peripheral edge about said cornering sub-section.
28. A ladle as recited in claim 1 wherein said wall peripheral edge
about said cornering sub-section includes a pair of cornering
segments, said cornering segments converging towards a cornering
apex.
29. A ladle as recited in claim 28 wherein said ladle peripheral
wall substantially adjacent to said cornering apex defines a lip
protruding substantially outwardly from the remainder of said wall
peripheral edge.
30. A ladle as recited in claim 28 wherein each of said cornering
segment extends substantially along a corresponding segment axis,
said segment axes being angled relative to each other by a segment
axis angle.
31. A ladle as recited in claim 30 wherein said segment axis angle
is a substantially acute angle.
32. A ladle as recited in claim 30 wherein said segment axis angle
has a value of approximately between 30 and 45 degrees.
33. A ladle as recited in claim 28 wherein said cornering apex has
a substantially pointed configuration.
34. A ladle as recited in claim 28 wherein said cornering apex has
a substantially rounded configuration.
35. A ladle as recited in claim 1 wherein said pouring section and
said scrapping sub-section extend in a common reference geometrical
plane, said cornering sub-section having a lip portion thereof
protruding from said reference geometrical plane, said lip portion
protruding from said reference geometrical plane so as to form a
lip-to-plane angle therebetween.
36. A ladle as recited in claim 35 wherein said lip-to-plane angle
has a value of approximately between 1 and 90 degrees.
37. A ladle for allowing both the collection of a foodstuff from a
container into said ladle and the pouring out of said foodstuff
from said ladle, said container defining a container base wall and
a container peripheral wall, said container base and peripheral
walls merging into a container corner section, said ladle
comprising: a substantially concave ladle peripheral wall, said
ladle peripheral wall having a wall peripheral edge delimiting a
containment volume, said ladle peripheral wall defining a wall
inner surface and a wall outer surface, said ladle peripheral wall
including a pouring section for facilitating the pouring out of
said foodstuff from said containment volume, said pouring section
having substantially the configuration of a quarter portion of a
sphere; a collecting section for facilitating the collection of
said foodstuff from said container into said containment volume,
said collecting section defining a cornering sub-section wherein
said wall peripheral edge has a substantially convex configuration
so as to define a lip protruding substantially outwardly from the
remainder of said ladle peripheral wall; a handle extending from
said ladle peripheral wall substantially intermediate said pouring
section and said cornering sub-section;
whereby said cornering sub-section is usable for both scooping the
foodstuff located substantially adjacent said container corner
section into said containment volume and scrapping said foodstuff
from at least a portion of said container corner section.
38. A ladle as recited in claim 37 wherein said ladle peripheral
wall also includes a measuring section for facilitating the
determination of the volume of said foodstuff contained in said
containment volume, said measuring section extending substantially
between said cornering sub-section and said pouring section.
39. A ladle as recited in claim 37 wherein said wall peripheral
edge about said cornering sub-section includes a pair of cornering
segments, said cornering segments converging towards a cornering
apex.
40. A ladle as recited in claim 39 wherein said cornering apex
defines a lip protruding substantially outwardly from the remainder
of said wall peripheral edge.
41. A ladle as recited in claim 39 wherein each of said cornering
segment extends substantially along a corresponding segment axis,
said segment axes being angled relative to each other by a segment
axis angle.
42. A ladle as recited in claim 41 wherein said segment axis angle
is a substantially acute angle.
43. A ladle as recited in claim 41 wherein said segment axis angle
has a value of approximately between 30 and 45 degrees.
44. A ladle as recited in claim 39 wherein said cornering apex has
a substantially pointed configuration.
45. A ladle as recited in claim 39 wherein said cornering apex has
a substantially rounded configuration.
46. A ladle as recited in claim 37 wherein said pouring section
extends in a reference geometrical plane, said cornering
sub-section having a lip portion thereof protruding from said
reference geometrical plane, said lip portion protruding from said
reference geometrical plane so as to form a lip-to-plane angle
therebetween.
47. A ladle as recited in claim 46 wherein said lip-to-plane angle
has a value of approximately between 1 and 90 degrees.
48. A ladle for allowing both the collection of a foodstuff from a
container into said ladle and the pouring out of said foodstuff
from said ladle, said container defining a container base wall and
a container peripheral wall, said container base and peripheral
walls merging into a container corner section, said ladle
comprising: a substantially concave ladle peripheral wall, said
ladle peripheral wall having a wall peripheral edge delimiting a
containment volume, said ladle peripheral wall defining a wall
inner surface and a wall outer surface, said ladle peripheral wall
including a pouring section for facilitating the pouring out of
said foodstuff from said containment volume, said pouring section
having substantially the configuration of a quarter portion of a
sphere; a collecting section extending from said pouring section
for facilitating the collection of said foodstuff from said
container into said containment volume; said pouring and collecting
sections being delimited by a pouring-to-collecting delimiting
plane extending therebetween; a handle extending from said ladle
peripheral wall so as to be offset relative to said
pouring-to-collecting delimiting plane on the same side of the
latter as said collecting section;
whereby the off-setting of said handle is adapted to facilitate the
pouring of said foodstuff from said pouring section.
49. A ladle as recited in claim 48 wherein said handle is located
substantially adjacent to said pouring-to-collecting delimiting
plane.
50. A ladle as recited in claim 49 wherein said handle is located
substantially opposite to said collecting section.
51. A ladle as recited in claim 48 wherein said ladle peripheral
wall also includes a measuring section for facilitating the
determination of the volume of said foodstuff contained in said
containment volume, said pouring-to-collecting delimiting plane
also delimiting said pouring section from said measuring section,
said measuring section extending substantially between said
collecting and pouring sections, said handle extending from said
measuring section.
52. A ladle as recited in claim 51 wherein said handle is located
substantially adjacent to said pouring-to-collecting delimiting
plane.
53. A ladle as recited in claim 51 wherein said handle is located
substantially opposite to said collecting section.
54. A ladle as recited in claim 48 wherein said handle defines a
handle longitudinal axis and said handle is twisted substantially
helicoidally and at least partially along said handle longitudinal
axis.
55. A ladle as recited in claim 48 wherein said handle defines a
pair of substantially opposed handle surfaces, said handle surfaces
being twisted substantially helicoidally and at least partially
along said handle longitudinal axis.
56. A ladle as recited in claim 55 wherein said handle has a
substantially ovaloid configuration, said ovaloid configuration
tapering towards a substantially flat configuration in a direction
leading towards said ladle peripheral wall.
57. A ladle as recited in claim 56 wherein said handle extends
integrally from said wall peripheral edge.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the general field of culinary
implements and is particularly concerned with a multifunctional and
ergonomic ladle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The traditional culinary or kitchen ladle is used extensively in
various settings for serving various liquid foods and liquid-solid
food mixtures such as soup, sauces, stews, gravy, fruit punch or
the like. The conventional culinary ladle typically includes a
bowl-like receptacle having a substantially concave wall defining a
peripheral rim or edge. The bowl-like receptacle is rigidly mounted
at one end of a substantially long and slender shank having a
hand-grip portion at its other end. The rim normally defines a
spout at a location about the edge. The handle, in turn, is
typically attached to the bowl-like receptacle along its outer
circumference, approximately 90 degrees from the spout.
During use, a user typically grasps the handle of a conventional
ladle and dips the ladle bowl into a food container. The liquid
food or liquid-solid foods mixture flows into the bowl-like
container of the ladle until it is filled to a desired level. The
user via the handle then transfers the ladle to a second container
such as a plate or serving dish.
To dispense the food from the ladle, the spout is typically
positioned over the second receptacle such that, typically, the
spout faces the user. The user begins by rotating his or her wrist
to tip the the ladle until it is filled to a desired level. The
user via the handle then transfers the ladle to a second container
such as a plate or serving dish.
To dispense the food from the ladle, the spout is typically
positioned over the second receptacle such that, typically, the
spout faces the user. The user begins by rotating his or her wrist
to tip the spout downward. Typically, the handle is swung in a
rather long arc in order to tilt the receptacle in such a manner as
to discharge the content of the ladle.
Although conventional ladles have been used extensively for a great
number of years, they nevertheless suffer from numerous drawbacks.
One of these drawbacks relates to the fact that although the
bowl-like receptacle of the conventional ladle is relatively easy
fill by dipping it into a relatively large container holding a
relatively large or deep volume of food, these conventional ladles
have proven to be unsuitable for scooping foodstuff located
substantially adjacent the base wall or base-to-peripheral wall
corner section of typical food containers.
Indeed, the substantially hemi-spherical configuration of most
ladle bowls only allows a limited arc section of the bowl
peripheral edge to contact or to be positioned adjacent the bowl
receptacle base wall. Also, the generally rounded configuration of
the conventional ladle bowl precludes the conventional ladles from
being able to reach in the base-to-peripheral wall corner section
of most conventional food containers. The typical radius of
curvature of the base-to-peripheral wall corner section of most
conventional food containers being typically smaller than the
radius of the hemi-spherical bowl-like containers of conventional
ladles, the conventional ladles are incapable of scooping foodstuff
located adjacent the base-to-peripheral wall corner sections of
conventional food containers and, a fortiori, of scraping the
base-to-peripheral wall corner section of food containers.
The incapacity of conventional food ladles to be used
satisfactorily adjacent the base wall and base-to-peripheral wall
corner sections of conventional food containers potentially leads
to considerable wastage of valuable foodstuff. It also forces users
of such conventional ladles to purchase, use and maintain
additional make-shift culinary implements such as smaller spoons
used for scooping foodstuff adjacent corner sections of the
conventional food containers, scraping implements for scraping both
the bottom wall and corner sections of conventional food containers
and the like.
Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved ladle facilitating
scooping of foodstuff from a position located adjacent both the
food container base wall and the container base-to-peripheral wall
corner section. There also exists a need for an improve ladle
allowing for scraping of a conventional food container base wall
and scraping of a conventional food container base-to-peripheral
corner section.
Another disadvantage associated with most conventional culinary
ladles relates to the fact that the typical movement required for
discharging the foodstuff from a bowl-like container of
conventional ladles is typically ergonomically unacceptable.
Indeed, the limited range of movement of the human wrist sometimes
prevents the user from emptying the ladle bowl solely by using the
wrist. Also, the distribution of the weight of the foodstuff within
the ladle bowl is such that it sometimes requires a forearm
strength exceeding that of some individuals.
As a consequence, instead of only using the wrist, once the range
limit of the wrist is reached, the user must rotate and extend his
or her arm and shoulder. Thus, the user is forced to awkwardly
rotate his or her wrist, arm and shoulder to completely empty the
contents of the ladle bowl. This not only potentially leads to
spillage incidents but may also lead, in the long run, to
repetitive-type stress injuries for individuals using conventional
ladles more extensively such as cooks, chefs and the like.
The unnatural and ergonomically unsound motion is further
complicated when the ladle is used in a partially shielded
environment. For example, at many restaurant salad bars, a plastic
shield or "sneeze guard" constricts the area available for
manipulating the ladle when pouring salad dressings, soups and the
like. The plastic shield basically prevents the user from
performing the exaggerated arm and shoulder motion required by the
standard ladle design. The standard ladle design hence typically
greatly impedes simpler pouring motions. Accordingly, there exists
a need for a ladle designed for more ergonomic and convenient
pouring.
Still, another disadvantage associated with most conventional prior
art ladles relates to their apparent lack of versatility. For
example, most conventional ladles are incapable of serving the
liquid only or the solids only from the liquid-solid mixtures.
Solids can be removed from a liquid-solid mixture by using an
additional implement such as a perforated strainer or spoon. The
strainer is, however, incapable of serving the liquid-only from the
liquid-solid mixture. For example, with respect to fruit punches,
most people would prefer not to have solids in their drinks. In
other situations, for example, it may be necessary to serve only
broth from soup or only solids such as eggs from an egg bath.
Separating devices have been proposed in the prior art but they
suffer from major drawbacks including unergonomical features and
considerable complexity. Accordingly, there exists a need for an
improved sieving ladle allowing for liquid-solid separation of
liquid-solid food mixtures.
Yet, still another drawback associated with most conventional
ladles relates to the difficulty in obtaining a relatively constant
pouring flow in typical settings wherein the volume of food stuff
within the ladle bowl varies. For example, in situations wherein
the ladle is used to pour sauce over various dish plates, it may
prove desirable to obtain a substantially constant pouring flow
while pouring the sauce over different plates so as to obtain a
generally similar or uniform plate presentation.
However, as the sauce is poured from one plate to another, the
quantity of sauce remaining in the ladle bowl diminishes hence
requiring a compensating or counter-balancing adjustment of the
pouring motion. For example, as the volume of foodstuff within the
ladle bowl diminishes, the pouring tilt of the ladle may need to be
more pronounced. This compensating adjustment of the pouring stroke
may prove to be tedious and may also lead to even more
ergonomically questionable movements.
Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved ladle allowing for
relative control over the pouring flow pattern so as to enable a
generally uniform pouring flow pattern regardless of the quantity
of foodstuff within the ladle bowl. Also, there exists a need for
an improved ladle allowing for control of the pouring flow so as to
enable a single ladle to be used for simulating the pouring flow
pattern of ladles having various sizes and configurations.
Yet, still another disadvantage associated with those conventional
culinary ladles relates to the inability of such conventional
ladles to provide an assessment or evaluation of the quantity of
foodstuff within the ladle bowl. This may lead to the need for
additional implements such as measuring cups and, accordingly, to
additional cooking steps such as pouring the food stuff into a
measuring cup and then pouring back a measured volume into the
cooking ladle. This, in turn, may prove to be both tedious and
time-consuming.
Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved ladle having
foodstuff volume measuring capacities.
A further disadvantage associated with conventional culinary ladles
attempting to improve on the ergonomicity thereof or to increase
their versatility, is that they are typically structurally complex
and, hence, both more susceptible to failure and relatively
expensive to manufacture. Accordingly, there exists a general need
for an improved culinary ladle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a general object of the present invention to provide an
improved culinary ladle.
Advantages of the present invention include that, in at least one
embodiment of the invention, the proposed culinary ladle allows for
scooping of foodstuff located substantially adjacent the base wall
and/or the base-to-peripheral wall corner section of conventional
food containers or vessels. Also, in at least one embodiment of the
invention, the proposed culinary ladle allows for scraping of the
base wall and/or of the base-to-peripheral wall corner sections of
conventional food containers.
Furthermore, in at least one embodiment of the invention, the
proposed culinary ladle is designed so as to facilitate ergonomic
handling thereof during both filling of the ladle bowl and pouring
of foodstuff from the ladle bowl. In at least one embodiment of the
invention, the handle of the proposed culinary ladle is positioned
so as to take advantage of the torque created by the weight of the
foodstuff within the ladle bowl to reduce the force required for
tilting or pivoting the ladle during a typical pouring step.
Still furthermore, in at least one embodiment of the invention, the
proposed culinary ladle is adapted to facilitate the separation of
solids from the liquids of a solid-liquid food mixture through a
set of quick and ergonomic steps. Also, in at least one embodiment
of the invention, the proposed culinary ladle is adapted to improve
control over the pouring flow pattern so as to enable an intended
user to pour substantially uniformly and so as to allow a single
ladle to simulate the flow pattern of other ladles having different
configurations and sizes.
Yet still furthermore, in at least one embodiment of the invention,
the proposed culinary ladle allows for straining and/or control
over the pouring flow through the use of adaptors releasably
attachable to a pouring section of the ladle. The adaptors are
designed so as to be attachable to and detachable from the ladle
through a set of quick and ergonomic steps without requiring
special tooling or manual dexterity.
Also, in at least one embodiment of the invention, the proposed
ladle is adapted to provide visual indication of the volume of
foodstuff contained within the ladle bowl. Yet still furthermore,
the proposed ladle is designed so as to be manufacturable using
conventional forms of manufacturing and conventional materials such
as conventional polymeric resins so as to provide a culinary ladle
that will be economically feasible, long-lasting and relatively
trouble-free in operation.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there is
provided a ladle for allowing both the collection of a foodstuff
from a container into the ladle and the pouring out of the
foodstuff from the ladle, the container defining a container base
wall and a container peripheral wall, the container base and
peripheral walls merging into a container corner section, the ladle
comprising: a substantially concave ladle peripheral wail, the
ladle peripheral wall having a wall peripheral edge delimiting a
containment volume, the ladle peripheral wall defining a wall inner
surface and a wall outer surface, the ladle peripheral wall
including a pouring section for facilitating the pouring out of the
foodstuff from the containment volume, the pouring section having a
substantially symmetrically concave configuration; a collecting
section for facilitating the collection of the foodstuff from the
container into the containment volume, the collecting section
defining a scraping sub-section wherein the wall peripheral edge
has a substantially rectilinear configuration, the scrapping
subsection extending integrally from the pouring section; a
cornering sub-section wherein the wall peripheral edge has a
substantially convex configuration, the cornering sub-section
extending integrally from the scraping sub-section; a handle
extending from the ladle peripheral wall substantially intermediate
the pouring section and the cornering sub-section; whereby the
scrapping subsection is usable for both scooping the foodstuff
located substantially adjacent the container base wall into the
containment volume and scrapping the foodstuff from at least a
portion of the container base wall and wherein the cornering
sub-section is usable for both scooping the foodstuff located
substantially adjacent the container corner section into the
containment volume and scraping the foodstuff from at least a
portion of the container corner section.
Conveniently, the ladle peripheral wall also includes a measuring
section for facilitating the determination of the volume of the
foodstuff contained in the containment volume, the measuring
section extending substantially between the cornering sub-section
and the pouring section.
Typically, the ladle further comprises a flow modifying means
attachable over at least a portion of the pouring section for
modifying the flow of the foodstuff as the foodstuff is poured out
of the ladle. Conveniently, the flow modifying means is releasably
attachable over at least a portion of the pouring section.
Conveniently, the flow modifying means includes a flow modifying
adaptor or plate, the flow modifying plate being attachable to the
ladle so as to contact at least a portion of the wall peripheral
edge.
In one embodiment of the invention, the flow modifying plate has at
least one straining aperture extending therethrough for allowing
the flow modifying means to act as a strainer.
In another embodiment of the invention, the flow modifying plate
has a flow sizing aperture extending therethrough, the flow sizing
aperture being positioned, configured and sized for limiting the
flow of the foodstuff out of the ladle to a predetermined flow
size.
Typically, the wall peripheral edge about the cornering sub-section
includes a pair of cornering segments, the cornering segments
converging towards a cornering apex. In one embodiment of the
invention, the cornering apex defines a lip protruding
substantially outwardly from the remainder of the wall peripheral
edge.
Conveniently, the pouring section and the scrapping sub-section
extend in a common reference geometrical plane. In at least one
embodiment of the invention, the cornering sub-section having a lip
portion thereof protruding from the reference geometrical plane,
the lip portion protruding from the reference geometrical plane so
as to form a lip-to-plane angle thesebetween.
In accordance with the present invention, there is also provided a
ladle for allowing both the collection of a foodstuff from a
container into the ladle and the pouring out of the foodstuff from
the ladle, the container defining a container base wall and a
container peripheral wall, the container base and peripheral walls
merging into a container corner section, the ladle comprising: a
substantially concave ladle peripheral wall, the ladle peripheral
wall having a wall peripheral edge delimiting a containment volume,
the ladle peripheral wall defining a wall inner surface and a wall
outer surface, the ladle peripheral wall including a pouring
section for facilitating the pouring out of the foodstuff from the
containment volume, the pouring section having substantially the
configuration of a quarter portion of a sphere; a collecting
section for facilitating the collection of the foodstuff from the
container into the containment volume, the collecting section
defining a cornering sub-section wherein the wall peripheral edge
has a substantially convex configuration so as to define a lip
protruding substantially outwardly from the remainder of the ladle
peripheral wall; a handle extending from the ladle peripheral wall
substantially intermediate the pouring section and the cornering
sub-section; whereby the cornering sub-section is usable for both
scooping the foodstuff located substantially adjacent the container
corner section into the containment volume and scrapping the
foodstuff from at least a portion of the container corner
section.
In accordance with the present invention, there is further provided
a ladle for allowing both the collection of a foodstuff from a
container into the ladle and the pouring out of the foodstuff from
the ladle, the container defining a container base wall and a
container peripheral wall, the container base and peripheral walls
merging into a container corner section, the ladle comprising: a
substantially concave ladle peripheral wall the ladle peripheral
wall having a wall peripheral edge delimiting a containment volume,
the ladle peripheral wall defining a wall inner surface and a wall
outer surface, the ladle peripheral wall including a pouring
section for facilitating the pouring out of the foodstuff from the
containment volume, the pouring section having substantially the
configuration of a quarter portion of a sphere; a collecting
section extending from the pouring section for facilitating the
collection of the foodstuff from the container into the containment
volume; the pouring and collecting sections being delimited by a
pouring-to-collecting delimiting plane extending therebetween; a
handle extending from the ladle peripheral wall so as to be offset
relative to the pouring-to-collecting delimiting plane on the same
side of the latter as the collecting section; whereby the
off-setting of the handle is adapted to facilitate the pouring of
the foodstuff from the pouring section.
Conveniently, the handle is located substantially adjacent to the
pouring-to-collecting delimiting plane. Typically, the handle is
located substantially opposite to the collecting section.
Conveniently, the handle defines a handle longitudinal axis and the
handle is twisted substantially helicoidally and at least partially
along the handle longitudinal axis.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Various embodiments of the present invention will now be disclosed,
by way of example, in reference to the following drawings in
which:
FIG. 1, in a perspective view with sections taken out illustrates a
ladle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,
the ladle being shown with a strainer adaptor about to be mounted
thereon;
FIG. 2, in a top view with sections taken out, illustrates part of
a ladle in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 3, in a perspective view with sections taken out illustrates a
ladle in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present
invention, the ladle being shown with a strainer adaptor about to
be mounted thereon;
FIG. 4, in a top view with sections taken out, illustrates part of
ladle shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5, in a perspective view with sections taken out illustrates a
ladle in accordance with yet another alternative embodiment of the
present invention, the ladle being shown with a strainer adaptor
about to be mounted thereon;
FIG. 6, in a top view with sections taken out, illustrates part of
the ladle shown in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7, in a partial perspective view with sections taken out,
illustrates a ladle in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention, the ladle being shown scraping foodstuff adjacent a
corner edge of a cooking vessel;
FIG. 8, in a partial perspective view with sections taken out,
illustrates a ladle in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention, the ladle being shown scraping a bottom wall part of a
cooking vessel;
FIG. 9, in a partial perspective view with sections taken out,
illustrates a ladle in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention, the ladle being shown with a strainer adaptor mounted
thereon and pouring out a liquid therefrom;
FIG. 10, in a partial perspective view with sections taken out,
illustrates a ladle in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention, the ladle being shown with a flow modifying adaptor
mounted thereon, the flow modifying adaptor being used for
modifying the outflow of a liquid being poured out of the ladle;
and
FIG. 11, in a partial perspective view with sections taken out,
illustrates a ladle in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention, the ladle being shown pouring out a liquid
therefrom.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown an ergonomic and
multifunctional ladle 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention. The ladle 10 is shown inserted within a cooking
container or vessel 12 defining a container base wall 14 and a
container peripheral wall 16. The container base and peripheral
walls 14, 16 are shown merging into a container corner section
18.
The ladle 10 is shown collecting or scooping foodstuff (not shown)
substantially adjacent the container corner section 18. It should
however be understood that although the ladle 10 is shown in some
figures as being used in the specific context of culinary steps
being performed with a specific type of cooking vessel, the ladle
10 could be used in other contexts and with other types of vessels
without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Also, although the ladle 10 is shown in some figures as being used
with a cooking vessel 12 having a substantially disc-shaped and
flat base wall 14, a substantially cylindrical peripheral wall 16
and a generally rounded container corner section 18, it should be
understood that the ladle 10 could be used with containers or
vessels having different configurations without departing from the
scope of the present invention.
Furthermore, although the ladle 10 is shown in some figures as
being used with a liquid type of foodstuff 100, the ladle 10 could
be used in other contexts and with other types of products or
materials such as with granular material, a mixture of solid and
liquid material, a mixture of solid, granular and liquid material
or any other suitable flowable material without departing from the
scope of the present invention.
The ladle 10 includes a substantially concave ladle peripheral wall
indicated generally by the reference numeral 20. The ladle 10 is
also shown throughout the figures as having a handle generally
indicated by the reference numeral 22 extending from the ladle
peripheral wall 20. It should, however, be understood that the
ladle 10 could be provided without the handle 22 without departing
from the scope of the present invention. In such instances, a
separate handle-type component releasably attachable to the ladle
peripheral wall 20 could be optionally separately provided.
As shown more specifically in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, the ladle
peripheral wall 20 has a wall peripheral edge 24 delimiting a
containment volume 26. The ladle peripheral wall 20 defines a wall
inner surface 28 and opposed wall outer surface 30.
As illustrated more specifically in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6, the ladle
peripheral wall 20 includes a pouring section 32 for facilitating
the pouring-out of the foodstuff 100 from the containment volume
26. The ladle peripheral wall 20 also includes a collecting section
generally indicated by the reference numeral 34 for facilitating
the collection of the foodstuff 100 from the container 12 into the
containment volume 26.
The pouring section 32 typically has substantially the
configuration of a quarter portion of a sphere. It should, however,
be understood that the pouring section 32 could have other suitable
configurations without departing from the scope of the present
invention.
Typically, the wall peripheral edge 24 defines a food contacting
portion 36 adapted to contact the foodstuff 100 as the latter is
poured out of the ladle 10. Also, typically, the pouring section 32
defines a guiding portion 38 for guiding the foodstuff 100 towards
the food contacting portion 36. Preferably, the guiding portion 38
is symmetrically disposed relative to the food contacting portion
36 so that the foodstuff 100 will flow substantially uniformly
towards the food contacting portion 36 when the ladle 10 is tilted
substantially towards the latter.
In the embodiments shown throughout the figures, the guiding
portion 38 includes the pouring section 32 in its entirety. In
alternative embodiments of the invention (not shown) the guiding
portion 38 may include only part of the pouring section 32 and may
have other configurations such as generally flat converging wall
sections or the like.
As illustrated more specifically in FIG. 2, the collecting section
34 defines a scraping sub-section 40 wherein the wall peripheral
edge 24 has a substantially rectilinear configuration. The scraping
sub-section 40 extends integrally from the pouring section 32.
The collecting section 34 also defines a cornering sub-section 42
wherein the wall peripheral edge 24 has a substantially convex
configuration. The cornering sub-section 42 extends integrally from
the scraping sub-section 40. It should be understood that both the
scraping sub-section 40 and the cornering sub-section 42 could have
other suitable configurations without departing from the scope of
the present invention. For example, FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, 6 illustrate
alternative configurations of the cornering sub-section 42.
As illustrated more specifically in FIG. 8, the scraping
sub-section 40 is configured and sized for both scooping the
foodstuff 100 located substantially adjacent the container base
wall 14 and scraping the foodstuff 100 from at least a portion of
the container base wall 14. As illustrated more specifically in
FIG. 7, the cornering sub-section 42 is usable both for scooping
the foodstuff 100 located substantially adjacent the container
corner section 18 into the containment volume 26 and scraping the
foodstuff 100 from at least a portion of the container corner
section 18. configuration. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and
6, the cornering apex 46 has a substantially pointed
configuration.
As illustrated more specifically in FIGS. 7 and 8, the scraping
sub-sections and cornering subsections 40, 42 typically define a
sub-section delimiting line 98 therebetween. Typically, the
sub-section delimiting line 98 has generally the configuration of a
sine wave. It should however be understood that the sub-section
delimiting line could have other configurations without departing
from the scope of the present invention.
Each cornering segment 44 extends substantially along a
corresponding segment axis 48. In situations such as shown
throughout the Figures wherein the cornering segments 44 are
substantially arcuate, the segment axes 48 represent an average
direction of the corresponding cornering segments 44. The segment
axes 48 are angled relative to each other by a segment axis angle
50. The segment angle 50 is typically a substantially acute angle.
Typically, although by no means exclusively, the segment axis angle
50 has a value of approximately between 30 and 160 degrees.
The wall peripheral edge 24 in the region of the scraping
sub-section 40 and the pouring section 32 typically extends in a
common reference geometrical plane illustrated in FIG. 5 and
indicated generally by the reference numeral 52. The cornering apex
46 typically protrudes substantially outwardly from the remainder
of the wall peripheral edge 24. In at least one embodiment of the
invention shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the ladle peripheral wall 20
adjacent the cornering apex 46 defines a lip section 54 protruding
substantially outwardly from the edge geometrical plane 52.
The pouring section 32 defines a pouring spout 56 extending from
the wall peripheral edge 24. Preferably, the spout 56 is positioned
substantially centrally relative to the remainder of the pouring
section 32.
As illustrated more specifically in FIG. 2, the spout 56 typically
extends from the wall peripheral edge 24 substantially along a
spout axis 58. In situations such as shown throughout the Figures
wherein the pouring section 32 has substantially the configuration
of a quarter of a sphere, the pouring section 32 typically defines
a pouring section radius 60 having a radius origin 62. The ladle
peripheral wall 20 about the pouring section 32 is preferably
located substantially equidistally relative to the radius origin
62.
The pouring section radius 60 has a radius length. The scraping
sub-section 48 has a scraping sub-section length. Typically,
although by no means exclusively, the scraping sub-section length
has a value substantially between one and three quarters that of
the radius length.
Typically, although by no means exclusively, the wall peripheral
edge 24 about the cornering sub-section 42 has substantially the
configuration of an end portion of an ellipse or an arc segment of
a circle defining respectively an ellipse long axis or an arc
center radius 64. The ellipse long axis or arc center radius 64 is
typically angled relative to the spout axis 58 by an
ellipse-to-spout axis angle 66. Typically, although by no means
exclusively, the ellipse-to-spout axis angle 66 has a value of
approximately between 30 and 60 degrees. Typically, although by no
means exclusively, the wall peripheral edge 24 about the scraping
sub-section 40 merges substantially co-linearly with the wall
peripheral edge 24 about the cornering sub-section 42.
As illustrated throughout the figures, the ladle peripheral wall 20
typically also includes a measuring section 68 for facilitating the
determination of the volume of the foodstuff 100 contained in the
containment volume 26. The measuring section 68 extends
substantially between the cornering sub-section 42 and the pouring
section 32. Typically, although by no means exclusively, the wall
peripheral edge 24 about the measuring section 68 merges
substantially co-linearly with the wall peripheral edge 24 about
the cornering sub-section 42. Also, typically, although by no means
exclusively, the spout axis 58 substantially delimits approximately
the measuring section 68 from the cornering sub-section 42.
As illustrated more specifically in FIG. 1, the measuring section
68 is typically provided with at least one and preferably a
plurality of measuring indications 70 marked thereon. Typically,
the measuring indications 70 include measuring lines 72 protruding
from the wall inner surface 28 into the containment volume 26. The
measuring indications 70 also typically include corresponding
values of measurement engraved or printed or otherwise marked
adjacent corresponding measuring lines 68.
As illustrated more specifically in FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 9 and 10, the
ladle 10 optionally further includes a flow modifying means
attachable over at least a portion of the pouring section 32 for
modifying the flow of the foodstuff 100 as the latter is poured out
of the ladle 10. Preferably, the flow modifying means is releasably
attachable over at least a portion of the pouring section 32.
Typically, the flow modifying means includes a flow-modifying
adaptor 76 having a substantially plate-like configuration. It
should be understood that the flow-modifying adaptor 76 could have
other configurations without departing from the scope of the
present invention. The flow-modifying adaptor 76 is attachable to
the ladle 10 so as to contact at least a portion of the wall
peripheral edge 24.
In at least one embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 5
and 9, the flow-modifying adaptor 76 has at least one and
preferably a plurality of straining apertures 78 extending
therethrough for allowing the flow-modifying means to act as a
strainer. Although the straining apertures 78 shown in FIGS. 1, 3,
5 and 9 are shown as being generally disc-shaped apertures disposed
in a substantially regular pattern, it should be understood that
the straining apertures 78 could have other configurations and be
otherwise disposed without departing from the scope of the present
invention.
As illustrated more specifically in FIG. 10, in at least one
embodiment of the invention, the flow-modifying adaptor 76 has a
flow-sizing aperture 80 extending therethrough. The flow-sizing
aperture 80 is positioned, configured and sized for limiting the
flow of the foodstuff 100 out of the ladle 10 to a predetermined
flow stream size. Reference numeral 102 in FIG. 10 is used to
designate the width of a flow stream 104 modified by the
flow-sizing aperture 80 whereas the reference numeral 106 is used
to designate the flow width of a similar but unmodified flow stream
108.
Control over the flow stream size being poured out of the ladle 10
facilitates uniform pouring of the foodstuff regardless of the
amount of foodstuff 100 contained within the containment volume 26
and regardless of the pouring tilt used for pouring the foodstuff
100 out of the ladle 10. Control over the flow stream size also
allows a single ladle 10 with flow-modifying adaptors 76 having
different flow-sizing apertures to be used for pouring various
types of foodstuffs such as soup, sauce or the like.
The flow-sizing aperture 80 is typically configured and sized so as
to be substantially in register with the food-contacting portion 36
when the flow-modifying adaptor 76 is attached to the ladle 10. In
embodiments wherein a pouring spout 56 is present, the flow-sizing
aperture 80 is configured and sized so as to be substantially in
register with the pouring spout 56 when the flow-modifying adaptor
76 is attached to the ladle 10.
Typically, the ladle 10 includes a tongue and groove combination
formed between the flow modifying adaptor 76 and the ladle
peripheral wall 20 for releasably attaching the flow-modifying
adaptor 76 to the ladle 10. The flow-modifying adaptor 76 defines a
plate peripheral edge. In the embodiments shown throughout the
figures, the plate peripheral edge has a substantially arcuate
plate edge first section 82. The plate edge first section 82 is
configured and sized for being substantially in register with the
wall peripheral edge 24 over at least a portion of preferably most
or all of the pouring section 32.
The flow-modifying adaptor 76 typically further includes an
attachment flange 84 depending integrally from at least a portion
and preferably all of the plate edge first section 82. The
attachment flange 84 has at least one and preferably a plurality of
flange apertures 86 extending therethrough.
The pouring section 32 correspondingly has at least one and
preferably a plurality of complementary tongues 88 protruding
substantially outwardly from the wall outer surface 30. The flange
apertures 86 and corresponding tongues 88 are positioned,
configured and sized for cooperating in releasably attaching the
flow-modifying adaptor 76 to the ladle peripheral wall 20.
In the embodiments shown throughout the figures, the flow-modifying
76 is configured and sized for extending substantially fully across
the pouring section 32. In at least one alternative embodiment of
the invention (not shown), the flow-modifying adaptor 76 only
extends partially across the pouring section 32.
Typically, the plate peripheral edge also defines a substantially
rectilinear plate edge second section 90 intercepting the plate
edge first section 82.
As illustrated more specifically in FIGS. 9 through 11, both the
measuring section 68 and the flow-modifying adaptor 76 are
preferably configured and sized for allowing visualization of at
least a portion and preferably most or all of the measuring section
68 when the flow modifying adaptor 76 is operatively mounted on the
ladle peripheral wall 20 and the ladle 10 is ergonomically held by
an intended user. In other words, in at least one embodiment of the
invention, an intended user is able to use the measuring
indications 70 for estimating the volume of foodstuff 100 within
the containment volume 26 even when the flow-modifying adaptor 76
is attached to the ladle 10.
The handle 22 typically extends integrally from the ladle
peripheral walls 20 substantially intermediate the pouring section
32 and the cornering sub-section 42. In situations such as shown
throughout the figures wherein the ladle peripheral wall 20 further
includes a measuring section 68, the handle 22 typically extends
from the measuring section 68 substantially adjacent the pouring
section 32.
The pouring and collecting sections 32, 34 are typically delimited
from each other by a pouring-to-collecting delimiting plane 94
extending therebetween. The handle 22 typically extends from the
ladle peripheral wall 20 so as to be offset relative to the
pouring-to-collecting delimiting plane 94 on the same side of the
latter as the collecting section 34. The offsetting of the handle
22 is adapted to facilitate the pouring of the foodstuff 100 from
the pouring section 32. Indeed, the lever of the rotational torque
created by the weight of the foodstuff 100 within the containment
volume 26 is increased by the offset position of the handle 22
relative to a reference center line of the ladle peripheral wall.
Hence, the requited torque for imparting a rotational movement of
the handle about the handle longitudinal axis 90 is decreased.
As shown throughout the figures, the handle 22 is typically located
substantially adjacent to the pouring-to-collecting delimiting
plane 94. Also, the handle 22 is typically located substantially
opposite to the scraping section 20. In situations wherein the
ladle 10 includes a measuring section 68, the pouring-to-collecting
delimiting plane 94 also delimits the pouring section 32 from the
measuring section 68.
As illustrated more specifically in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, the handle 22
is typically twisted substantially helicoidally and at least
partially along a handle longitudinal axis 90. Typically, the
handle 22 defines a pair of substantially opposed handle surfaces
96. The handle surfaces 96 are twisted substantially helicoidally
and at least partially along the handle longitudinal axis 90.
Typically, although by no means exclusively, the handle 22 has a
substantially ovaloid cross-sectional configuration. The ovaloid
configuration tapers towards a substantially flat configuration in
a direction leading towards the ladle peripheral 20. Typically, the
handle 22 extends integrally from the wall peripheral edge 24 in a
generally co-planar relationship relative therewith.
In the embodiments shown throughout the figures, the ladle 10 is
designed for use more ergonomically by a right-handed user. It
should be understood that the various sections of the ladle 10
could be positioned according to a mirror image of that shown
throughout the figures for providing a left-handed user version of
the ladle 10 without departing from the scope of the present
invention.
Numerous other variations or modifications may be made to the
hereinabove disclosed ladle without departing from the scope of the
present invention.
* * * * *